Rajesh Verma

IBN 7

September 7, 2013, in Muzaffarnagar, India

Unidentified assailants fatally shot Rajesh Verma, a part-time
stringer for the TV news channel IBN 7, in the chest while he was
covering confrontations between Hindus and Muslims in the small city of
Muzaffarnagar, according to Ajesh Mohan, senior assistant editor at IBN 7, and
local news
reports.

Mohan told CPJ that Verma had worked for the station for about five
years. Poh Si Teng, a former freelance journalist for Global Post, told CPJ that in the past Verma had also worked as a
fixer for the Global Post.

Indian officials said they had not been able to identify the
perpetrator and that they were investigating the fatality.

The clashes erupted following police dispersal of a meeting by Hindu
farmers calling for justice in the killings of two Hindu men, according to The
New York Times. The victims were believed
to have been killed by Muslims, news reports
said. Officials said the clashes were also fueled by a false video circulated
last week that purportedly showed the two men being lynched. At least 28 people
were killed
and more than 90 individuals arrested in the violence.

Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh met
with Verma's family and told them the culprits would be held responsible. Chief
Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced
financial support of Rs. 1,500,000 (US $23,870) for Mr. Verma's family.